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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. JOHNSON. ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

No. 523,578. Patented July 24, 1894.

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J.H.JOHNSON. ATTACHMENT FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

No. 523,578. Patented July 24, 18 94.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY .IOHNSON, OF LEICESTER, EN GLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK JOHNSON, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ATTACHMENT FOR BooTs OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent NO. 523,578, dated July 24, 1894.

Application filed March 18, 1893- Serial No. 466,694. (No model.) A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN HENRY J oHNsoN, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at Leicester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boots,Shoes, Gaiters, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to prevent the bottoms of gentlemens trousers from becoming soiled and bespattered with mud when the roads and footpaths are in a wet and dirty condition without it being necessary to turn up the bottoms of the trousers for that purpose.

The invention may be carried intoeffect in at least two ways as follows:

First. By applying to or combining with a boot, shoe or the like a suitably shaped attachment adapted to fit exteriorly over the heel portion thereof. The attachment may be wholly or partly formed of leather or other suitable material or a combination thereof, and be provided with straps and buckles or elastic bands or other suitable or equivalent means to permit of being readily fixedin position on a boot or shoe and easily removed therefrom at the will of the wearer. The attachment or device is by preference so constructed that it stands out somewhat from the boot or shoe thereby lengthening the horizontal line from the instep to the back of the heel.

Secondly. Bycombining with a gaiter,overall or the like worn with a boot 0r shoe, a device or attachment substantially such as hereinbefore described but minus the fastening straps. The said attachment may be connected to the ga'iter or overall by stitching or by any other suitable means. By the use of the said device or attachment the bottom of the trousers in walking is prevented descending so low'as it would otherwise do and is thereby kept out of contact with the heel and consequently with the wet or dirt thereon or under foot.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description in reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boot having the before mentioned heel attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewofthe attachment detached from the boot and Fig.-

3 is a central vertical section of the hinder portion of the attachment. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a boot fitted with a combined heel attachment and gaiter. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a gaiter and attachment combined, and Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section and Fig.7 a plan of the under side of Fig. 6. A

Referring to Figs. 1,2, and 3, the attachment as will be seen most clearly in Fig. 2, consists of two pieces A B preferably of leather whose rear edges are laid over each other and connected together by stitches O or equivalent means.

A most convenient shape for the attachment is that indicated in Fig. 1, each of thetwo pieces A B forming the attachment is formed with an extension, or continuation A B constituting a strap to pass round the front part of the boot as shown in Fig. 1. i a

One of the extensions B is provided with a number of perforations or eyelet holesD and the opposite extension is furnished with a buckle E so that the attachment may be socured in wearing position on a bootor'shoe as indicated in Fig. 1. a

A strap F preferably of elastic webbing is secured by stitches F or equivalent means to opposite corners of the attachment and when the latter is fixed in wearing position the said strap passes close under the waist of the boot or shoe and against the breast of the heel thereof. Now in order to, lengthen or increasethe vhorizontal line from the instep to the back of the heel and thus prevent the bottoms of the trousers touching the ground or coming into contact with the heel, there may be fixed by stitches G to preferably the inner side of the attachmenta piece of thick leather G or a combination of one or more layers of thinnerleather or other material extending only partly round the attachment and partly upward in the direction of the height thereof. I T

The piece of leather G of single thickness, which may be butt leather, is shaved down on three of its edges to permit of being more readily connected by stitches G to the attachment,but in other respects the full thickness of the leather remains as will be seen most clearly in Fig. 3.

The extra thickness of leather being placed at the center or rear portion of the attachment causes the latter to project somewhat from the heel as seen in Fig. 1 and by this means the extra length obtained from the illstep to the back of the heel is generally greater than the length of the openingin the bottom of the trousers and thereby prevents the latter descending below the attachment to reach the ground, but in any case it keeps the bottom of the trousers from contacting with the bottom of the heel, which in wet and dirty weather is frequently covered more or less with dirt.

The attachment by preference is constructed of leather with a very smooth external face so that the dirt or marks thereon can be readily brushed or sponged off.

Instead of the straps A B being formed of an integral continuation or extension of the attachment they may be cut separately and sewed or otherwise fastened'thereto and in lieu of straps I may employ an elastic strap such as F to pass round the front of the boot.

The method of fixing the attachment in position on a boot or shoe is obvious. The elastic band F is first passed under the breast of the heel, the attachment is then pulled over the heel or hinder part of the boot or shoe and then fastened in position on the front thereof by the strap B and buckle E as shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 to 7 show the application of my attachment to a gaiter such as is worn with boots and shoes.

I'I represents an ordinary cloth gaiter which except as regards the heel attachment may be constructed in the usual way, and closed by buttons H and button holes I-1 and fixed on a boot by the well known strap J and buckle J.

As will be most clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 7 the heel portion is formed of a greater thickness than the other parts so as to lengthen the horizontal line from the instep I to the back of the heel for the purpose already hereinbefore referred to, One method of obtaining this increased thickness consists in sandwiching the cloth or gaiter material I-I between an external facing K of smooth faced leather and an internal facing G of increased thickness preferably of leather of a single thickness, or two or more layers of thinner material; or of course the order of the internal and external layers maybe reversed and the whole connected together by one or more rows of stitches K or other suitable means.

It is of course obvious, that instead of sandwiching the gaiter material and leather facingsas just described, the gaiter material may be cut away and omitted at the heel portion and the latter be formed of one or more thicknesses of leather whose marginal edges might be stitched to the marginal edges of the gaiter as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

I claim-- 1. In an attachment, such as described, the combination with the body portion proper, one or more thickening pieces, stitchedor otherwise secured to the lower part of the heel portion, and means for securing the attachment to the shoe; as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an attachment such as described, the combination with the body portion proper, of one or more thickening pieces stitched or otherwise secured to the inner side of the heel portion, means for fastening the device to a boot or shoe, whereby the horizontal line from the instep tothe back of the heel will be increased, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses. I

JOHN HENRY JOHNSON.

Witnesses: V

E. NORTH LEWIS, T. S. SHOULER, Both of Berridge Street,

Eng.

Chambers, Leicester, 

